Reviewed:
This author is my favorite new SOL author of 2024. Tapestry and 20 Questions, and even the Runaway, share a common theme: abused young male MC, fighting to overcome his circumstances. So, be prepared for 'dark' themes.
20 Questions leans hard at first into the 'Family Betrayal' trope/sub-genre that reminds me of Tiny Tim, Oblivious, Taking My Spring Break in New England, and others where family swinging is hidden from the MC, and typically leads to neglect.
The MC isn't your typical SOL male MC. He is bisexual, though nothing sexual occurs between men so far in the story. There is self-harm mentioned, though it doesn't feel gratuitous, and flows from the story.
What I do enjoy about this MC and the authors others in general, is that the MC comes across as smart and saavy, quick witted and acerbic in his attempts to get the people in the MC's life to be decent people, and own their shit. He radically owns his problems and issues, and helps others around him realize theirs.
The writing in this and the author's other works is somewhat loose and stream-of-conscious-y? You jump from a lot of 'oh damn' moments, to diabolical revenge, to acute depression, even within the same chapter. But it works and draws me in. I'll update my review if I figure out a way to describe it better, but another way to describe it is having slice-of-life aspects without the dwelling in minutia you typically see in those. The author does have a good sense of where to dwell for maximum impact, but also knows when to leave things ambiguous and the reader wanting for more.
I'm hooked, and this is one of the authors I look forward to their updates the most.